Winston-Salem Black Panther historic marker

Image of the Winston-Salem Black Panthers historic marker that will be unveiled at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and East 5th Street on Oct. 14

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Winston-Salem Chapter of the Black Panther Party

In 1969, Winston-Salem became the first Southern city with a chapter of the Black Panther Party. Nationally and locally, the Black Panthers sought to protect African-American neighborhoods from police brutality; the volatility of the times often led to confrontation with the police. Later the Chapter offered community service programs, including free breakfasts for school children, sickle cell anemia testing, and the Joseph Waddell People's Free Ambulance Service, which received national acclaim. These programs brought meaningful change to Winston-Salem during a time of social and political upheaval and lent validation to the Chapter's slogan, "Power to the People — Right On!" Members of the Winston-Salem Chapter would later serve the community as ministers, teachers, politicians, and community organizers.